Training for what we hope never happens

Crews narrow search for missing Nanticoke man to Lake Silkworth

LEHMAN TWP. — Crews spent another day at Lake Silkworth searching for Adam Lutz, but there still was no sign of him.

The 22-year-old Nanticoke resident went missing Thursday night near the lake, and crews have been searching for him since then.

As of Monday, though, it appeared the mission had transitioned from rescue to recovery. Lehman Township Police Officer Harold Cain said that, from this point on, the search for Lutz would be contained to the water of Lake Silkworth.

“Based on the amount of ground we’ve covered and the information that’s available to us, we’re led to believe that the water is where we want to go,” Cain said.

Lake Silkworth Fire Chief Jerry Walker told the Times Leader on Friday that Lutz was not familiar with the area. When last seen, he was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.

Cain said Lutz was captured on surveillance camera footage shortly before he went missing.

The footage, captured on camera from an outdoors clubhouse on Route 29 across from the lake, shows Lutz pulling his car into the clubhouse parking lot, getting out of the vehicle, and walking in the direction of the lake.

He hasn’t been seen since.

Cain said a friend of Lutz’s was in the car with him, but Cain would not identify the individual’s name.

Numerous teams participated in the search Monday, including Northeast Search and Rescue and STRIKE K-9 Search and Rescue. Three dogs trained in picking up scents from people were taken onto the lake to try to identify a possible location for Lutz. Vikki Coup, a volunteer for STRIKE, said the dogs had identified an area of interest in the lake.

The Germania Hose Company, based in Duryea, sent its dive team to assist in the search. The team combed the area identified by the dogs with sonar devices from their boat to try to locate Lutz.

However, as the sun set at about 5 p.m., the dive team was pulled from the water before actually diving underwater to search. It was not immediately clear when crews would return Tuesday to continue their search.

Police and search personnel look from the shore at Lake Silkworth for Nanticoke resident Adam Lutz, who has been missing since last week. (Aimee Dilger | Times Leader)

Lutz

A search team looks for a missing man, 22-year-old Adam Lutz of Nanticoke, at Lake Silkworth on Monday afternoon. (Aimee Dilger | Times Leader)